(The Center Square) – A new sales tax could be coming to Caddo Parish bumping total taxes to 10.1% if approved.
State Rep. Michael Melerine introduced House Bill 13 at the end of February, authorizing the Caddo Parish School Board to collect additional taxes if passed by voters.
According to the bill, the new sales tax may not exceed 0.5% within the parish. This tax does not replace other sales tax but will be in addition to the other taxes paid in the parish. If passed by the Legislature the new sales tax will take effect on July 1, as outlined in the legislation, but the next possible voting dates aren’t until Oct. 11 or Nov. 15, according to reports.
Melerine introduced the bill on Feb. 24, and the 2025 regular session meets on April 14. House Bill 13 retains the present law but also authorizes the Caddo Parish School Board to collect the additional tax proposed.
The Center Square was unsuccessful getting comment from Melerine before publication.
The constitution states that any school board or local government subdivision can impose a sales tax as long as the sales tax collected in the parish does not exceed 3%. This amount is exclusive of state sales tax and must receive approval from voters. Present law allows parishes and school boards to collect an additional sales tax as long as it does not exceed 5% when combined with the rate of other taxes, excluding state sales and law enforcement district taxes.
Many new tax House bills were introduced in 2025, increasing tax rates across parishes and the state with House Bill 10 Act 11 increasing state sales tax to 5%. Some areas of Caddo Parish are at 10.35% for combined state and parish sales tax, with Shreveport at 9.6%.
If HB13 passes, Shreveport will bump to 10.1%, putting it among the highest in the state behind Calcasieu Parish with 10.75%, East Baton Rouge with 10.5%, and West Baton Rouge with 10.25%.
There are 20 House bills filed for 2025, along with five Senate bills. Citizens will get the opportunity to vote for or against House Bill 7 on March 29, which makes changes to the constitution to lower the maximum income tax rate. HB7 also doubles the standard deductions for those over 65.
